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Anna walked into her office, perching herself on the windowsill and folding her arms. ‘All right. What gives?’
She was going to push it. Right now probably wasn’t the time.
‘Nothing...’
‘Don’t nothing me, Jamie. You’ve been swallowing something for days, and it’s got something to do with me and the way I’ve been treating your brother. So let’s have it.’
‘You’ve done everything right. I think that the decision to have Dr Lewis take over is an excellent one.’ Jamie decided that the best course was the least antagonistic one.
‘And...?’
Okay. If she wanted to know so much... Maybe it was something that he should have mentioned to her before. Sitting down would be good, it might make him feel less angry, but somehow being confined in a seat was unthinkable.
‘I think... Jon’s very charming. Charismatic...’
‘And...?’
Jamie puffed out a breath. ‘Don’t be fooled by it. He just loves the attention and he’s broken a few hearts.’ His heart. Jon had broken his heart as well. Jamie swallowed down the thought.
A slight flush spread across her cheeks and as it did so, Jamie’s stomach did a somersault. Not Anna. He couldn’t bear to think that she might have fallen prey to Jon’s charm.
‘You think that I haven’t been professional?’
‘No, but now that you’re no longer his surgeon, that’s not an issue, is it?’ Jamie shook his head. ‘This is just...friendly advice.’
Anna’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Friendly advice? You think I need friendly advice to keep my hands off the patients?’
She was angry now, and deliberately misunderstanding him. Jamie felt his own anger begin to bubble furiously.
‘No, of course not, we both know how to act professionally. But I’ve seen how you look at him, the way you were listening to music together up on the roof the other evening...’ Jamie couldn’t even think about it.
‘How dare you?’ She marched across the room, stopping just inches in front of him, her face suddenly cold with rage.
‘Anna, I’m not suggesting you’ve done anything wrong. I just don’t want to see you getting hurt.’
‘No, Jamie. You’re telling me that I’ve been inappropriate with a patient. I found him sitting up there on the roof on his own, and I took a moment to talk to him. You understand talking, don’t you? If you saw a reaction from me when you arrived, maybe it was because you were looking daggers at me.’
Her indignant fury left no room for doubt. He’d allowed his own feelings for Anna to get in the way of his judgement, and he’d jumped to the conclusion that had been presented to him by his own relationship with his brother. Jamie suddenly felt very ashamed of himself.
‘Do I get to apologise?’ Maybe she didn’t want to hear it. Not after what he’d said.
‘Damn right you get to apologise. I’m not entirely sure how much good it’ll do, though.’ Anna’s face had softened a little as she threw down the challenge.
Jamie took a breath. He had to make this good. ‘Then I apologise. Unreservedly. I was wrong to suggest that your motives were anything other than kindness. And you’re right, my reaction was nothing to do with you, and everything to do with me. I’ve been trying not to lash out at Jon, and I lashed out at you instead. I’m sorry.’
He could feel the tension in the room lifting. He wanted to hug her, but he didn’t dare. In the silence between them, he felt himself begin to shake with emotion.
‘That’s a very nice apology. And it’s accepted.’ Anna moved her hand, brushing her fingers against his trembling hand, and he felt desire flood through him. No. She was just being a kind friend. He wasn’t going to mistake
that for something else, not so soon after he’d made such a similar, horrendous mistake.
‘Thank you. I don’t really deserve that. I...um...think I need to get some fresh air.’
She frowned. ‘Where are you going?’
He’d thought flowers. Maybe something bright and happy. Friendly rather than romantic.
‘I’m not sure you want me around right now. I wouldn’t blame you...’
